Advice needed please

[RunninMichigan]

Ok so I have hunted coonhounds for bought 7 years. I have one female that runs coon and had ran bear before I want to try to get cats she is coming 6 years old I believe and actualy was on a completely accidental cat hunt one nite. We were coon hunting one of the dogs jumped a cat and they both ran and treeded it more than once cuz it kept bailing. I would really like to try to get her on a cat or two this year. I had originally planned just to find tracks and put her on them and hope I could get her to run it. So my questions for all you are

Do I need to work her on scent first? (she is a fully trained coonsog and has been on that one cat)
Is she too old to switch onto cats?
Do I need more that one dog running at a time?

If I don't should I still run more than one at a time for better results or watever?

If I have or choose to run more than one dog what is the best way to work a pup on scent? I have always used live coons to train hounds I'm assuming cats and coons don't smell alike so would I just use scent on a rag or can I use stray cats to run trails?

What brand of cat scent would you suggest? I want to use something that has worked for others preferably

And finally suprisingly we have no snow this year how would I find tracks on frozen ground? Or eat should I look for?

Please answer any of the questions you can and tell me any advice you think I should know I really would like to get into cat hunting with hounds in a way I won't get too discouraged. I'm sure it may not be easy but any pointers or advice y'all could give will be greatly appreciated and used. Thank you all in advance and merry christmas and happy new years


Thanks again
Runnin

[shawn cole]

the first fresh snow you get walk her on a fresh cat track until she seems ready and then send her up the track six is not to old she may not be the fastest cat dog around the first few times out but if she likes them you will know soon enough if she is a cat dog or a wanna be

[bearhunter611]

Like shawn said, walk dog on a lead on the cat track till you jump it an turn her loose! being an older dog you should be able to tell with just a few walk ups if shes going to work or not. If she does like running cats after theyre jumped and having run a couple hot tracks, let her try working a cold track. will all depend how cold of a nose she has if she can cold trail.

some dogs have it and some don't, alot of dogs will run a cat but just dont pick up on the losses good enough to catch one. you'll find there are dogs that will run a cat and then there are Cat dogs. It took me years of trying hounds to find a good cat dog. A good dog will make training a young dog alot easier than with out one. I've lost a few good cat dogs over the last couple years, and now have a dog that runs cats well but has run yotes before so he isnt a broke dog and he's 7, but doesnt have a problem catching a jumped cat.

Where you located at in MI? I hunt during the week and work weekends. I have a young dog that I believe is going to turn out to be a good dog on cats, and plan on walking up as many cats with him as i can, then cutting my older dog to him if he can stay with it long enough for me to get back to the truck or sled. I have a buddy that I'm hunting with this year with a couple dogs he tends to work with, I'm sure your more than welcome to tag along if you'd like, If we get any snow that is. once the snow does get nice and deep should be able to catch a few for the dogs.

[Unreal_tk]

I would check your local laws about running ferals. I use grawes scents to start my pups out with Mike Leonards method.

As for finding cat tracks on frozen ground... if you can hunt at night (cats move more at night, so youll find a hotter track) is find a spot being hit heavy and road your dogs in the area if they get excited get out and explore you might find some sign. If you find sign in a area keep checking it. It may take weeks but odds are the cat will work that area again.

Road kills or other types of deer and elk are popular for bobs to come into because of the easy meal and sometimes they snag a magpie or crow. But beware of coyotes hitting the kill as well. Follow the food and you'll find bobs. Rabbits, squirrels, birds, etc

Im no expert but those are some things I do know.